The Shura Council’s woman and child affairs committee has examined the objectives and guiding principles of a proposed amendment of the Child Law – issued under Law No 37 of 2012.
It has been submitted by five Shura Council members, led by second vice-chairwoman Dr Jihad Al Fadhel, and yesterday’s meeting was chaired by Ejlal Bubshait.
At its core, the proposal focuses on protecting the best interests of the child, ensuring digital safety, preventing exploitation and shielding minors from risks arising from the misuse of digital platforms.
“Digital safety is no longer a secondary issue,” Ms Bubshait said. “It has become an essential part of child protection, just like physical and psychological safety.
“The proposal recognises that older teenagers use digital platforms extensively, but it insists on clear responsibilities for platforms to ensure safe and responsible use.”
Under the draft law, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) would issue policies, standards and regulatory instructions defining the obligations of Internet service providers in achieving child digital safety and protecting minors from harmful online content.
This includes setting technical and operational requirements to ensure filtering, monitoring and reporting mechanisms are in place across the digital ecosystem.
The proposal will be debated further within an upcoming session before moving through the remaining legislative stages.
If approved, it would mark one of Bahrain’s most comprehensive legal frameworks dedicated specifically to protecting children in the digital environment. “This proposal is a forward-looking step to ensure that our children can benefit from technology without being exposed to harm,” added Ms Bubshait.
“The move comes amid global concern over children’s exposure to harmful online content, cyberbullying and digital exploitation, placing Bahrain among countries seeking to modernise child protection laws for the digital age.”
The GDN reported that 17 cases of online harassment and blackmail targeting children were handled in the first half of last year. A majority of the cases remain under investigation while two were temporarily closed because perpetrators were unknown.
Child-safety experts advise keeping devices in shared family spaces, banning phones from bedrooms, limiting Internet time and watching for unexplained physical or emotional changes in children – warning these may be signs of online abuse.
According to studies from numerous institutions, including the University of Oxford and Johns Hopkins University, social media has several negative effects on pre-teens aged between nine and 13.
Depression, anxiety and mental health risks are among the most significant impacts, with research linking frequent social media exposure to brain changes in areas tied to emotion, impulse control and social sensitivity, correlating with a decrease in life satisfaction.
Bahrain was placed 29th in the KidsRights Index 2024 which measures health, education and child rights.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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